Category Archives: Flagstaff

Community Meeting on Awareness & Prevention of Serious Injury and Fatality Collisions on Camp Townsend/Winona Road

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is facilitating a meeting to discuss motor vehicle collisions resulting in injuries and fatalities that have occurred on Camp Townsend/Winona Road. The meeting will be held at the Summit Fire District Station Number 31 located at 6425 N. Cosnino Road in Flagstaff on Thursday, March 27, 2014 beginning at 6:00 pm.

During the years of 2008 to February 4, 2014 Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives have investigated 49 motor vehicle collisions resulting in injuries and five collisions that have resulted in fatalities on Camp Townsend/Winona Road. Investigations have revealed that a large number of the collisions are the result of driver error with the most predominant violations of “Speed in Excess Of the Posted Limit” and “Failure to Control Motor Vehicle.”

Representatives of the Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Public Works Engineering Department will present information to the community and discuss possible solution to include increased enforcement of traffic violations on Camp/Townsend Winona Road with emphasis on violations that may result in serious injury and fatality collisions. Representatives of the Public Works Department will discuss the possibility of additional signage.

The Sheriff’s Office is seeking information and suggestions from the public that create a collaborative effort to reduce collisions in the area. We cordially invite you to join the Sheriff’s Office in a partnership of trust and shared responsibility with the ultimate objective of increasing motoring-safety on Camp Townsend Winona Road and throughout our community.

ADOT beginning work on US 89 widening project

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Little Colorado River Bridge to be replaced, roadway widened and roundabout installed

FLAGSTAFF – The Arizona Department of Transportation has begun work on a project to expand US 89 from two lanes to four lanes through the community of Cameron within the Navajo Nation, approximately 50 miles north of Flagstaff.

Major work on the $36.7 million project includes widening US 89 to two lanes in each direction between State Route 64 and the Little Colorado River (mileposts 464-467) and removal and replacement of the existing US 89 Cameron Truss Bridge with two new bridges at that location.

Additional improvements on US 89 through Cameron include constructing a roundabout at the existing intersection of US 89 and SR 64, new sidewalks, streetlights, and four pedestrian/livestock underpasses.

Construction is anticipated to be completed in two major phases with completion expected Fall 2016.

Traffic delays may occur during construction with traffic reduced to one lane. Directional signage and flaggers will be present during construction. ADOT advises motorists to be alert for construction equipment and personnel, and to proceed through the work zone with caution.

Rain and snow Friday.

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rasn50WILLIAMS – The weather service predicts rain and snow starting today through Friday with some snow accumulation possible. The same conditions exist for Flagstaff.

Scattered rain and snow showers are expected this afternoon with some thunder possible tonight in Flagstaff. There is a possibility of a half-inch of snow accumulation overnight.

The rain and snow conditions will continue through Friday during the day returning to sunny and warm by Saturday.

Runaway juveniles taken into custody without incident.

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raj-20140312FLAGSTAFF – Two juvenile runaways kept Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies busy beginning Tuesday when it was reported that they were in possession of a firearm. Thirteen year old Gregorio Mocasque and eleven year old Troy Stallings who were reported as runaway juveniles and were last seen at approximately 11:00 pm on March 8 in the Doney Park area East of Flagstaff, AZ.

On the 11th at about 1:10 pm while searching for the missing subjects, Sheriff’s Deputies and Flagstaff Police Officers found the hand gun that they believed was in the possession of the missing juveniles. The gun was found abandoned in a forested area close to Turkey Hill and Foster Road in the Doney Park subdivision. Investigators were not aware of any other information that would indicate the two runaways are in possession of any other firearms.

At about 5 pm, the runaways were in custody by Sheriff’s deputies without incident after receiving a tip from a woman in Doney Park who had received a flier earlier. The boys were released to the custody of the Juvenile Detention Center.

“The men and women of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office consider themselves very fortunate to serve in a county where community members partner with law enforcement to report suspicious persons and activity and are vital in promoting neighborhood safety,” the press release said.

The Sheriffs department also thanked the Flagstaff Police department, United States Marshall’s Task force, the Sheriff’s Civilian Patrol Volunteers and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter crew for their assistance in the search.

Two neighborhood watch programs scheduled for Flagstaff.

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neighborhoodwatchFLAGSTAFF – Two neighborhood watch meetings are scheduled for the first week of March in the Flagstaff area. The first is at Timberline/Fernwood on March 4. The second will be in Doney Park on March 6.

The Timberline/Fernwood meeting will be from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Summit Fire Station #33 located at 6050 Firehouse Lane, off of North Highway 89. Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll of the Coconino County Sheriff’s office and County Supervisor Liz Archuleta will be in attendance. Members of the Sheriff’s Office staff will be at the meeting to share information and encourage continued neighborhood participation.

At the request of participants who attended the February meeting a Master Gardener from Coconino County will speak to the group about seasonal gardening and plant species that thrive in Coconino County. The speaker will also identify types of noxious weeds and plants found in Coconino County.

Deputy Driscoll and County Supervisor Mandy Metzger will be at the Doney Park Neighborhood Watch Meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. at Summit Fire District Station 32 and Administrative Offices located at 8905 Koch Field Road Flagstaff, AZ.

Chief Deputy Jim Driscoll will be at the meeting to encourage continued neighborhood participation and to share information. Doney Park Community Deputies will be available to answer questions and provide support to this partnership between law abiding citizens, law enforcement and county government.

At the request of participants during the February meeting, Ruthanne Penn who is the Assistant to the Coconino County Emergency Manager will give a presentation on Preparedness for Natural Disasters and Emergencies. Ms. Penn will give instructions on how to build a “Go Bag” which contains items required for an evacuation out of the residence lasting up to 72 hours. Participants will also be given instructions how to build a “Home Emergency Kit” that will sustain a family for up to 72 hours in the event they are required to “Shelter in Place.”

Neighborhood Watch is similar to the Block Watch program commonly conducted in urban areas and goes back to the concept of “neighbors looking out for neighbors” that many people remember from 30 years ago. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent and deter criminal activity, attend to home and personal security, address the safety of our children and the elderly, and to alleviate fear and isolation. Residents learn how to observe and report suspicious activity and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

For more information about the Neighborhood Watch program and the meeting schedule, please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 226-5089.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office & Taverna Greek Grill Sponsor Tip-A-Cop Fundraiser for Special Olympics on Feb 18

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Flagstaff – Join the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Taverna Greek Grill, 420 S Woodland Blvd in Flagstaff, to raise funds for Northern Arizona Special Olympics athletes.  The Tip-A-Cop event will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2014.  All day, 15% of sales will go toward AZ Special Olympics.  From 5 pm – 9 pm Sheriff’s Office employees will be assisting the waiters and helping to serve you.  Officers will be accepting any tax deductible charitable donations you wish to give to help support local AZ Special Olympics athletes.

Special Olympic events were created for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to explore their abilities in a variety of sports and physical activities.  The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is a branch of Special Olympics that was founded by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in the 1980’s.  LETR is committed not only to raising funds for Special Olympics Athletes, but also to sharing awareness and promoting opportunities for the athletes.  In Arizona, Special Olympics offers 22 sporting events, 170 programs and five statewide competitions for over 13,000 athletes each year.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run earned its name because law enforcement personnel run, walk, and bicycle carrying the Special Olympics Torch to its destination for local, state, and worldwide Special Olympics Games.  As such, law enforcement has become the “Guardian of the Flame” for Special Olympics.  Later this spring, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will again be among the law enforcement agencies that guard the Flame of Hope as it journeys through our state and makes its way to the summer state games in Phoenix, AZ.

In preparation for those games and to help raise funds for our local athletes to train and participate in the sporting events, we are kicking off 2014 with Tip-A-Cop at Taverna Greek Grill in Flagstaff.  We also will be working with community partners throughout Coconino County for additional Tip-A-Cop events and other fundraising opportunities as we help athletes realize their goals and promote community awareness for Special Olympics.  Watch for these and other events on our Facebook page CoconinoSO and our Twitter account CoconinoSheriff:

  • AZ Special Olympics Winter Games are February 21-22, 2014 in Flagstaff
  • Polar Plunge fundraiser is March 8, 2014 in Flagstaff
  • AZ Special Olympics Summer Games are May 1-3, 2014 in Phoenix

To learn more about the Arizona Special Olympics, please visit the website:  http://www.specialolympicsarizona.org

You also can learn more about the partnership of Arizona law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes in a series of videos highlighting their stories.  Athlete Christopher Lee and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Detention Sergeant Corey Ringenberg share their stories at:  http://youtu.be/B-TCXC25Dxo.  A new video is scheduled to be unveiled each month, so watch for more videos and get to know some of the athletes.

Great weather for Grand Canyon “free” days.

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Grand_Canyon
Grand Canyon – While northern Arizona is suffering a dangerously mild winter, it will make the entrance free days this President’s Day weekend a delight. It is also the off-season so the traffic should be light. Temperatures are expected to be 67 tomorrow dropping to 62 on Sunday and 59-degrees on Washington’s Birthday. Entry into the Canyon will be free February 15 through Monday the 17th.

The problem with the weather is that if northern Arizona does not get significant snowfall the rest of this winter, we could have a dangerously dry summer causing closures of camping areas and cutting into the tourist trade.

Coconino County Sheriff’s office seeks information on Chase Reed Willet

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missing-chase-reed-willet-300pxFLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Sheriff’s office and Flagstaff Police are seeking information on a 15-year old runaway.

Chase Reed Willet was last seen getting off of the bus at Mount Elden Middle School in Flagstaff on February 4 at about 7:15 am. When last seen, he was wearing a white sweater with gray skulls on it, blue jeans and white sneakers with red trim.

Chase is a white male, 5′ 4″ weighing 100 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes and a 1-inch scar on his right cheek.

Anyone with information should call the Coconino County Sheriff at 928-774-4523 or 1-800-338-7888. You can also call Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

Man Arrested for Multiple Criminal Offenses Including Theft of Automobile and Unlawful Flight from Law Enforcement

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Capobianco-300pxFLAGSTAFF – On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at about 7:30 p.m. Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies Arrested forty six year-old James Capobianco Jr. of Sedona Arizona for Theft of Automobile, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Flight from a Law Enforcement Officer, Aggravated DUI on a Suspended License, and Reckless Driving.

On February 4, 2014 at 7:06 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office received the report of the theft of a 1969 Chevrolet pickup truck bearing an Arizona license plate from the owner’s residence located off of Highway 89A in Oak Creek Canyon. A Deputy spotted the vehicle headed north bound on 89A in the area of the Pinedale Subdivision.A second Deputy and an Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer were stopped on 89A in the area of the entrance to Fort Tuthill. As the stolen vehicle and the following Deputy passed, the second Deputy and Officer fell in behind the first two vehicles.

As the suspect vehicle passed the entrance to the Mountain Dell subdivision a Deputy observed the speed to be approximately seventy miles per hour. Deputies engaged their vehicles emergency lights and siren and the suspect failed to yield accelerating as it made a right turn on Lake Mary Road. The vehicle turned onto West High County squealing its tires as it negotiated the turn. The vehicle continued on West High Country at a high rate of speed almost rear ending vehicles in front of it and passing in a reckless manner. At this point and in the interest of public safety the on duty supervisor advised the involved Deputies to terminate the pursuit. A Deputy could see through the trees that the fleeing vehicle stopped approximately fifty yards ahead of the location where the deputies had stopped pursuing the vehicle.

Deputies approached the vehicle and saw the DPS Officer chasing the driver later identified as James Capobianco Jr. on foot. They joined the foot chase and a Deputy was able to make physical contact with the fleeing suspect. Initially the suspect physically resisted arrest but eventually complied and was taken into custody without injury to himself or the arresting Deputies.

During this investigation Deputies learned that approximately four months prior to this incident a female relative of the suspect’s sold her vehicle to the victim. The suspect allegedly retained a spare set of keys to the vehicle and used the keys to steal the vehicle. During an interview with arresting Deputies the suspect made statements implicating him in the above listed offenses.

Two Vehicle Collision on Townsend/Winona Rd. Claims a Life

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Flagstaff – Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives are investigating a two vehicle collision that occurred yesterday in the 6300 block of Townsend/Winona Road that resulted in the death of a sixty five year-old Richard Hintz of Flagstaff, Arizona.

On Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at about 1:47 p.m. the Northern Arizona 911 emergency dispatch center received several cell phone calls from motorists who reported a two vehicle head-on-collision in the 6600 block of Townsend Winona Road. Upon their arrival Deputies determined that the drivers of both vehicles were trapped inside their vehicles. Emergency first responders from Summit Fire District worked to extricate both of the trapped victims. Once Richard Hintz was removed from his White Honda four door sedan paramedics immediately began life saving efforts to include C.P.R. Sadly, the sixty-five year old man of Flagstaff did not respond to the medical attention and was eventually pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision.

A sixty-two year old man of Winslow, Arizona was freed from his vehicle and was taken to the Flagstaff Medical Center by Guardian Medical Transport where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle. Judging from physical evidence at the scene and statements obtained from witnesses, investigators believe the white Honda four door sedan was traveling west bound on Townsend Winona Road and the driver of a white Dodge pickup was traveling east bound and for an unknown reason the two vehicles collided in a head-on fashion.

This collision remains under investigation and no enforcement action has been taken at this point.